When a Surgical Complication May Be Considered Medical Negligence
Even routine surgeries come with risk. While surgical intervention can improve and even save lives, there is always the risk of complications. When these complications are based on professional negligence, it can support a medical malpractice claim that compensates the claimant for their physical, financial, and emotional damages. If you or someone you care about has been injured by a surgical complication resulting from professional negligence, you need the skilled legal counsel of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys at John Price Law in Charleston, SC.
Not Every Complication is Medical Negligence
As mentioned, risk is inherent to surgical procedures, so dangerous complications can arise. However, when the surgeon or another member of the surgical team fails to meet the professional standard of care, the resulting complications may constitute negligence.
This standard of care involves implementing the same safety precautions and level of care that other professionals with the same level of medical expertise would under similar circumstances. Deviance from this standard is considered negligence.
Common Causes of Surgical Complications
To begin, it’s important to point out that every medical malpractice claim involving surgical complications has its own unique set of circumstances. These claims often, however, break down into categories like the following:
- Failure to properly inform the patient regarding related risk factors
- Failure to gather adequate information regarding the patient’s medical history, underlying health conditions, and any allergies
- Inadequate sterilization practices or postoperative care can lead to dangerous infections.
- Deviation from the boundaries of the necessary incisions can damage nearby organs, tissues, blood vessels, and nerves
- Inadequate anesthesia, which can mean too little, too much, or failure to adequately monitor the effects of the anesthesia on the patient throughout surgery
Never Events
Never events are errors so clearly outside the scope of safe practices that they should never occur. Never events include operating on the wrong body part or on the wrong side of the patient’s body, performing the wrong surgery, and operating on the wrong patient. The most common form of surgical never event, however, is leaving a surgical implement inside the patient, and surgical sponges are the most common example.
Fault Can Also Lie with the Medical Facility
Sometimes, the medical facility in which the surgery is performed is deemed directly liable for surgical complications. Failure to hire competent medical professionals is a clear example. So too is failing to maintain well-equipped facilities that support successful surgeries. Failure to implement adequate safety protocols and ensure that they’re carefully followed is another concern.
Our Experienced Malpractice Lawyers Are on Your Side
Our compassionate Charleston medical malpractice attorneys at John Price Law Firm, LLC, dedicate our practice to fiercely advocating for all our valued clients, and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or calling 843-552-6011 today.